Proper job

Loved fitting our new grate. Freyja and i have made it over last couple of weeks and she has loved lerning new skills and techniques in woodwork.

Love a good glue squeese

Proper job

Getting the new cockpit sole grating made between other jobs in my studio.

The racing #2 foresail

Well despite putting up the laminate foresail wrong not connecting on the deck loop and removing the furling drum so we could not tension up the halyard enough, dragon fly still sailed 25 deg. To the wind and made 7 knots plus in 14 knots of true wind. Not sure when or if we will carry this sail on board will have to see how easily the furling drum comes off! Anyway it was amazing driving us so fast so close to wind with three reefs in the mail as well. We kept the sail area low to build confidence with the crew who are finding all the new controls and extra loads on sheets and gear a bit overwhelming. They loved it the boat hardly healed over and it felt like we were flying.

The conditions were lovely on saturday morning we left early to be there to make use of the moderate wind and the favourable tide.we came in with a reminder from the youngest crew that the tide was about to turn to wind over tide bu the. Blowing over 20 knots and we where surprised to see so many yachts heading out when we were coming in. After the time it took the yachts we saw leaving yo reach the open water we saw them coming in again! Tide and time wait for no man, and all that.

When do we try the storm jib!? Might put that up and see how it sets in conditions less than a storm. It has a beaded band to go up over the furled headsail. Will be interesting to see how it works. So much to learn.

Laminated sail repairs

The sail makers said if its old dont waste money on pro repairs just us it till it falls apart. We it was just this patch that came off so a lets see how long a bit of contact adhesive lasts!

Sail inspection

The high aspect ration racing laminate sail looks like fun. We are told by the previous owner its really good at sailing up high into wind especially useful in narrow channels. A little repaire to administer on the batton pocket end and i cant wait to give test it out. It appears we have lots of sails! And should be fit to dress the boat for all eventualities and they are in great shape.

Our first trips out

Totally loved it

Rigging inspection.

You can t look closely enough. Its a job knowing where all the split pins are never mind giving them a visual inspection and not missing any! This toggle pin was missing its split pin, no idea how long for. I only saw it because i wis studying this picture to remind myself to remake or fix the anchor rode retention pin with a new counterweight hand so it is less likely to fail with small string. Spotting the missing pin inspired a full search for others, only one found in place at the goose neck, the pin was there but was not opened up to stop it falling out. Scheduled inspection now there is an idea!

The admiralty

Do have there uses

Fergus loves his new berth

With wardrobe!

Post sail hair situation

Absolutely loving it

Amazing performer

5 knots in just over 6 true

At sea

Just admarilty just discovered why i made bean bags, hot ass girls!

Made it

Little did we know

That the new bean bags work as a great cure for inhaling rocket salad leave!

Next job

What the hell are these for, well i think they are for assistance in calculating or planning tacking and gybing angles courses when racing or wanting to get efficient or competitive simply sailing from a to b, but how to use them i have no idea so the next job is to find out. Basically i am flat out over excited now pineing for a sail its killing me! Some people call this fun!

Ooh new rechargeables

The new battery pack should give this handy navigation instruments remote a new lease of life. With it we can change display configuration on other desplays and show all the data streams on the micronet network of instruments. Seriously useful!

Second bean bag

Ok so finished my busy corner sowathon, well sort of might make the fore-hatch rain shade now i have had a little rest. Now we have two bean bags for deck crew to sit comfortably while concentrating hard on sails and course and look out, we should go faster or at least be comfortable for longer shifts on watch. We are going to have to get ised to watches and the discipline of taking rest when you can if we want to make some comfortable night passages. We will have to get some new life jackets too for off shore passages at night as are existing ones are not up to spec. Good christmas presents perhaps! Packing tomorrow for a few days afloat with a full compliment of crew and our first sail hopefully on saturday weather dependent. Can t wait!

Boaty dog bed

Just made this no-slip dog bed bean bag for beatrice she loves it!

New bean bag

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Recovered the chart table seat

Attention to details

 

Here she is when i left, sitting pritty and ready to leave. 

Love doing my best to keep a boat in tip top condition for its intended purpose, love even more have access to our own boat and being really confident she is ready to go. Been aboard dragonfly all day attending to the last of the surveyors recommendations and suggestions and doing some.

One wee job that i thought i had fixed last week was the small oil drips coming from the engine sump. Having tightened the nuts that hold the sump on some of them where quite slack, i did not know given time if they would still seep oil. They dont, hurray! You can see one black ring and drip stain on one of the offenders now fixed.

Also done today was installing the engine compartment fire extinguisher! Most satisfying.

 

Also fixed in place a bracket that supports the battery tray and was needing some screws and hole drilled.

 

Now you see it now you dont. A friend of mine had a similar ensign flag cleat in the aft boarding place. First time i saw it i said that needs chopping off before some child or stumbling adult hooks the body parts on its miss placed prong. A year lated he put it into his foot with very unpleasant consequences.  Who ever thought that horrid cleat was a good idea i know not but its gone for good now.

 

New saloon settee ply seats fitted, jist the job, pre reenforced where the last ones broke.  

Cant wait to go for a sail now shes fit for it.

 

Making window shades

This insulate bubble rap makes great window shades and a nice evening pass time. On our last boat it was really good at reducing condensation too. Getting them made before the half term hols and hopefully a wee jolly onboard.